Valve apparatus



A. F. MEYER VALVE APPARATUS April 27, 1954 Filed April 4 1951 I sSheets-Sheet 1" AWOL/ H E MEYER April 27, 1954 A. F. MEYER 2 676,616

I VALVE APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. F. MEYVERVALVE APPARATUS "April 27, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fi ed April 4, 1951Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE VALVE APPARATUSAdolph F. Meyer, St. Paul, Minn.

Application April 4., 1951, Serial No. 219,279

2 Claims. 1

The invention herein presents a new and improved valve apparatus.

' In the disclosure as made, the valve apparatus consists of 4 one-wayvalves interconnected by means of water pressure to function as afourway valve. Features and characteristics of the invention are,however, applicable to valve apparatuses including interconnectedone-way valves in number both greater and less than four.

While useful for various purposes, a valve apparatus made according tothe invention is herein illustrated and described as when functioning asa four-way valve employed in connection with a governor of the type asdisclosed in my U. S. Letgers Patent 2,179,559, granted November 14, 193

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of valve apparatuses incorporating thefeatures and characteristics of the invention as when applied to use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of either valve apparatus of Fig. 1,with parts omitted;

, Fig. 3 is a view corresponding generally with the disclosure of Fig. 2but showing parts in different positions;

, Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

r Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the valve apparatusdisclosed in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, numeral Ill denotes grindstoneseach of which is fast upon a shaft I l adapted to be driven in anysuitable and convenient manner, as by an electric motor l2 at one end ofthe shaft and an hydraulic turbine l3 at the other end of said shaft.Each of a plurality'of cylinders I4 is mounted adjacent the peripheralsurface of a grindstone l and has therein a piston-head l fixed on a rodE6. The end of each rod [6 opposite the corresponding piston-headcarries a foot I! operating in a pocket l8 to press blocks of woodagainst the surface of a grindstone so that the wood will be ground intopulp.

;A first pass I9 is provided for supplying water under grinding pressurefrom a suitable source (not shown) to each of the cylinders l4, and asecond pass 20 is provided for supplying water under backing-0Epressure, not greater than grinding pressure, from a suitable source(not shown) to each of said cylinders l4. First pipe connections 2| leadfrom the first pass 15 to each valve apparatus, denoted 22, and secondpipe connections 23 lead from the second pass 29 to each valveapparatus. Third pipe connections 24 extend between a port 25 in eachvalve apparatus 22 and an upper portion of the corresponding cylinder il, and fourth pipe connections 26 extend between a port 21 in each valveapparatus and a lower portion of the corresponding cylinder M.

The operative parts of the valve apparatus shown at the right in Fig. 1,and also in Fig. 3, are situated to permit water under grinding pressurethrough the corresponding first pipe connection 2i and third pipeconnection 24 to the upper surface of the piston-head l5 by which meansthis piston-head is gradually forced downwardly to maintain the wood inengagement with the grindstone. As the piston-head I5 is forceddownwardly by pressure admitted to the upper portion of the cylinder l4through the third pipe connection 24, any water in the lower portion ofsaid cylinder can escape through the fourth pipe connection 25 by way ofthe corresponding valve apparatus 22 to an exhaust 28 from said valveapparatus. The operative parts of the valve apparatus shown at the leftin said Fig. 1, and also in Figs. 2 and 5, are situated to permit escapeof water from the upper portion of the corresponding cylinder M by wayof the third pipe connection 24 to the exhaust 28 and to direct waterunder backing-oil pressure from the corresponding second pipe connection23 and the fourth pipe connection 26 to the lower surface of thepiston-head I5 in the corresponding cylinder id to force saidpiston-head upwardly to permit refilling of the pocket with wood to beground.

Each valve apparatus 22 includes a body constituted as a hollowed-outmember or" metal, or other suitable material, providing, together with"separate and independent flexible diaphragms 2t, a one-way valves,denoted 30, 3|, 32 and 33, respectively. Each of said one-way valvesincludes a flexible diaphragm 29 as a part thereof which extends acrossa continuous valve seat 34 of the corresponding one-way valve insurrounding re lation to a passageway through said one-way valve definedby a tubular element 35. The marginal portion of each flexible diaphragm29 is secured between a flange portion of a hollowedout cap member 36 ofthe corresponding one-way valve and portions of said body member inspaced, surrounding relation to the tubular element of saidcorresponding one-way valve. The cap members 36 are secured down, as at31, upon the 3 body member of the corresponding valve apparatus.

The first pipe connection 2| to each valve apparatus 22 is open to achamber 38 in surrounding relation to the tubular element of the onewayvalve 30, said chamber 38 is contiguous with the valve seat and flexiblediaphragm of said oneway valve 30, the passageway through the tubularelement of the one-way valve 30 is connected with the passageway throughthe one-way valve 3 I, as well as with the port 25 in the correspondingvalve apparatus to which the corresponding third pipe connection 24 isopen, and a chamber 39 in surrounding relation to the tubular element ofsaid one-way valve 3| is oontinguous with the valve seat and flexiblediaphragm of the one-way valve 3 I, as well as open to the exhaust 28ofthe corresponding valve apparatus. Likewise, the second pipeconnection 23 to each valve apparatus is open to a chamber 40 insurrounding relation to the tubular element of the oneway valve 32, saidchamber 40 is contiguous with the valve seat and flexible diaphragm ofsaid one-way valve 32, the passageway through the tubular element of theone-way valve 32 is connected with the passageway through the one-wayvalve 33, as well as with the port 27 of the corresponding valveapparatus to which the fourth pipe connection 26 is open, and a chamber4| in surrounding relation to the tubular element of said one way valve33 is contiguous with the valve seat and flexible diaphragm of theone-way valve 33, as well as open to the chamber 39 and the exhaust 28of the corresponding valve apparatus.

Mechanism is provided for selectively causing the flexible diaphragmsand valve seats of the one-way valves 3i and 32, respectively, to beengaged, while the flexible diaphragrns and valve seats of the one-wayvalves 30 and 33, respectively, are capable of becoming disengaged, whenit is desired that there be fiow of water under grinding pressure to theupper surface of a piston-head l and outlet flow of water from thecorresponding cylinder M to the exhaust 28, or the flexible diaphragmsand valve seats of said one-way valves 30 and 33, respectively, to beengaged, while the flexible diaphragms and valve seats of said one-wayvalves 3| and 32, respectively, are capable of becoming disengaged, whenit is desired that there be flow of water under backing-off pressure tothe lower surface of a piston-head l5 and outlet flow from thecorresponding cylinder to the exhaust 28.

Inlet pipe connections 42 lead from a source of supply (not shown) ofwater under pressure at least as great as that supplied to the firstpass l3 to each of small four-way valves 43, one for each valveapparatus 22. Each four-Way valve 43 is manually operable to directwater under supply pressure to one set or the other of one-way valves33, 33 or 3!, 32 of the corresponding valve apparatus while permittingthe passage of water through the set of one-way valves 3|, 32 or 30, 33,as the case may be, to which water under pressure is not being directed.The right four-way valve 43 in Fig. 1 is positioned to direct fiow ofwater from the corresponding inlet pipe connection 42 into a first pipe44 having opposite ends thereof connected to ports open to concavitiesprovided by the cap members and flexible diaphragms of the one-wayvalves 3| and 32, respectively, and concavities provided by the capmembers and flexible diaphragms of the one-way valves 30 and 33,respectively, are open to opposite ends of a second pipe 45 having anintermediate portion thereof connected up to direct flow to an outlet'45 from said right four-way valve. The operative parts of the valveapparatus are disclosed in Fig. 3 situated as when the correspondingsmall four-way valve 43 is in position as at the right in said Fig. 1.The left four-way valve in Fig. 1 is positioned to direct flow of waterfrom the corresponding inlet pipe connection 42 into the second pipe 45and the concavities provided by the cap members and flexible diaphragmsof the oneway valves 30 and 33, respectively, and concavities providedby the cap members and flexible diaphragms of the one-way valves 3| and32, respectively, are open to opposite ends of the first pipe 44directing fiow to the outlet 46 from said left four-way valve. Theoperative parts of the valve apparatus are disclosed in Figs. 2 and 5situated as when the corresponding small fourway valve 43 is in positionas at the left in said Fig. 1.

Flow of water in the first pipe connection 2| or the second pipeconnection 23 and through the first pass if) or the second pass 20 willbe accompanied by a pressure drop along said pipe connections and passesoccasioned by the friction loss due to the contact of the water with theinside surfaces thereof. This insures that the pressure in chambers 38,39, 4B and 4| and in the passageways of the tubular elements 35 tendingto keep the diaphragm 29 from coming in contact with the valve seat 34will, when there is flow of water through the valve, always be less thanthe pressure supplied to the pass is or the pass 23.

Since the supply pressure to apparatuses of the general character asdisclosed in my above identfied Letters Patent 2,179,559, and hence tothe inlet pipe connections 42, is always higher than, or at least equalto, the grinding pressure, as in the first pass H), and the backing-offpressure, as in the second pass 20, said supply pressure evidentlyconstitutes a positive force capable of use for closing any of theseveral oneway valves 30, 3|, 32 and 33. Small compression coil springs41, one for each one-way valve, are employed to retain the one-wayvalves closed under the condition when grinding pressure, or backing-offpressure, is or becomes equal to the supply pressure. The, compressioncoil spring 41 for each one-way valve is seated centrally of and betweenthe cap member and the flexible diaphragm of the corresponding onewayvalve, as very clearly disclosed in Fig. 5. Desirably, each compressioncoil spring 41 will exert but a few pounds pressure upon itscorresponding flexible diaphragm tending to urge it to closed position.

Each flexible diaphragm 29 when subjected to pressure of water from thecorresponding inlet pipe connection 42 is engaged by supply pressurewater over the full area of its surface adjacent the corresponding capmember 36. When each flexible diaphragm is in closed position, only apart of its surface opposite the corresponding cap member is exposed togrinding pressure, or backing-off pressure, as the case may be. That is,the area of each flexible diaphragm exposed to pressure tending to openthe corresponding one-Way valve is less than the area exposed topressure tending to close said one-way valve. Inasmuch as friction lossthrough the valve apparatus is small, a relatively low pressure can beused for backing 01f. Rapid backing off with moderate pressure and lowfriction in the valve apparatus can be accomplished.

' It will be noted that the only supply pressure water required in theoperation of the valve apparatus is that represented by the reduction inspace between the flexible diaphragms and the cap members as saidflexible diaphragms are moved from open to closed position. In practicaloperation only about a single cup of water from the source of supplywill be required to accomplish each actuation of the valve apparatus.

During the grinding part of the operating cycle, consuming about 95% ofthe operating time, the parts of the valve apparatus will be positionedas at the right in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 3, and the following pressureswill prevail on the flexible diaphragms of the several one-way valves:there will be no pressure on the upper surface of the flexible diaphragmof the onewayv valve 30, and grinding pressure on the lower surface ofsaid flexible diaphragm of said oneway valve 33; there will be supplypressure on the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm. of the one-wayvalve 3!, and grinding pressure on the lower surface of said flexiblediaphragm of said one-way, valve 3|; there will be supply pressure onthe upper surface of the flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 32, andbackingoff pressure on the lower surface of said flexble diaphragm ofsaid one-way valve 32; and there will be no pressure on the uppersurface of the flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 33, and a fewpounds pressure on the lower surface of said flexible diaphragm of saidone-way valve 33. Flow of water during the grinding part of theoperating cycle is from the pass I3 and a first pipe connection 2| tothe chamber 38 of the corresponding valve apparatus, thence by way ofthe one-way valve 30 and the port 25 and third pipe connection 24 to thecorresponding cylinder I4, and from said cylinder by way of thecorresponding fourth pipe connection 26, the port 21 and the one-wayvalve 33 and the chamber 4| to the exhaust 23. Flow through the one-wayvalves 3| and 32 will be precluded by reason of pressure water from thesource of supply against the upper surfaces of the flexible diaphragmsof said one-way valves 3| and 32.

During the backing-off part of the operating cycle, while a pocket isbeing refilled with Wood, consuming about 5% of the operating time, theparts of the valve apparatus will be positioned as at the left in Fig. 1and in Figs. 2 and 5, and the following pressures wil prevail on theflexible diaphragms of the several one-way valves: There will be nopressure on the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm of the one-wayvalve 32, and backing-off pressure on the lower surface of said flexiblediaphragm of said one-way valve 32; there will be supply pressure on theupper surface of the flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 33, andbacking-off pressure on the lower surface of said flexible diaphragm ofsaid one-way valve 33; there will be supply pressure on the uppersurface of the flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 33, and grindingpressure on the lower surface of said flexible diaphragm of said one-wayvalve 30; and there will be no pressure on the upper surface of theflexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 3|, and a few pounds pressure onthe lower surface of said flexible diaphragm of said one-way valve 3|.Flow of water during the backing-off part of the operating cycle is fromthe pass 2|) and a second pipe connection 23 to the chamber 40 of thecorresponding valve apparatus, thence by way of the one-way valve 32 andthe port 21 and fourth pipe connection 25 to the corresponding cylinderl4, and from said cylinder by way of the corresponding third pipeconnection 24, the port 25, the one-Way valve 3| and the cham-. ber 39to the exhaust 28. Flow through the one: Way valves 30 and 33 will beprecluded by reason of pressure of water from the source of supplyagainst the upper surfaces of the flexible diaphragms of said one-wayvalves 30 and 33.

The four-way valves 43 will be considerably smaller, compared to thesize of each valve apparatus 22, than in the disclosure as made. Whenfour-way valves such as those designated 43 are made of sufficient sizeto be capable of performing the functions required of the valveapparatus 22, the former are quite expensive and have short life. Valveapparatuses such as 22 can be manufactured much more inexpen sively inthe sizes required, and, at the same time, are capable of operatingefficiently for indefinite periods of time. All of the repairingrequired is replacement of the relatively inexpensive flexiblediaphragms when these become unflt for service.

Each of the small four-way valves 43 is capable of operation to causeeach set of one-way valves 33, 33 or 3!, 32, to be closed, in eachinstance of operation of each small four-way valve, from one to theother of the different positions as in Fig. 1, before the other set ofone-way valves, 3|, 32 or 33, 33, is permitted to open. Stateddifferently, the construction and arrangement are such that the one-wayvalves 30, 33 will become closed before the one-way valves 3|, 32 becomeopened with movement of each small four-way valve from position as atthe right to position as at the left in Fig. l, and also such that saidone-way valves 3|, 32 will become closed before said one-way valves 3|33 become opened with movement of each small four-way valve fromposition as at the left to position as at the right in said Fig. 1.During an interval of each operation of each valve apparatus 22, all ofthe one-way valves 3|], 3|, 32 and 33 are closed.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a first pass for delivering liquid under grindingpressure to a cylinder, a second pass for delivering liquid underbacking-off pressure to said cylinder, first, second, third and. fourthtubular elements each including a passageway and having a valve seat insurrounding relation to said passageway, passageways of said first andsecond, and third and fourth, tubular elements, respectively, beinginterconnected and there being bounding walls in spaced, surroundingrelation to the tubular elements providing therewith first, second,third and fourth chambers in contiguous relation to said first, second,third and fourth tubular elements, respectively, a pressure reducingfirst pipe connection from said first pass to said first chamber, apressure reducing second pipe connection from said second pass to saidthird chamber, a third pipe connection between the interconnectedpassageways of the first and second tubular elements and said cylinder,a fourth pipe connection between the interconnected passageways of thethird and fourth tubular elements and said cylinder, an exhaust fromsaid second and fourth chambers, a member rigid with the bounding wallsurrounding each of' said tubular elements, valves for engaging saidvalve seats each constituted as a diaphragm between a corresponding oneof said members and the bounding wall with which rigid, each diaphragmand its corresponding member together providing a concavity at a side ofthe diaphragm opposite the corresponding valve seat and the chambercontiguous therewith and each diaphragm including a first surfaceadjacent said corresponding valve seat and a second surface opposite thecorresponding valve seat and contiguous with the concavity provided bythe corresponding member and diaphragm, a fifth pipe connection, andmeans independent of the pressure reducing first and second pipeconnections for directing liquid under pressure as great as that ofliquid supplied to said first and second passes from said fifth pipeconnection selectively to the concavities in part provided by thediaphragm for controlling travel of liquid through said passageways ofthe first and third, and second and fourth, tubular elements,respectively, against the second surfaces of said diaphragms, thus tocause the first surfaces of the corresponding diaphragms to be forciblyengaged against the corresponding valve seats and for removing pressureof liquid selectively from the concavities in part provided by the diapiragms for controlling travel of liquid through the passageways of thesecond and fourth, and first and third, tubular elements, respectively,thus to permit the first surfaces of the corresponding diaphragms tobecome removed from said corresponding valve seats in response topressure of liquid from the corresponding pass.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein all of said first,second, third and fourth tubular elements and chambers are provided by asingle hollowed-out body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,524,217 Small Jan. 27, 1925 1,777,128 Powell Sept. 30, 19302,179,559 Meyer Nov. 14, 1939 2,317,271 Higley Apr. 20, 1943 2,321,257Van Der Werft June 8, 1943 2,352,629 Griswold July 4, 1944 2,376,918Hughes May 29, 1945

